New to silver. What does uncirculated mean?

I would assume brand new from the mint.

What about the coins people sell back to the companies?

Are these still considered uncirculated since people don't use ASE to buy a $1 coke at the gas station?

i bought a few rolls from Provident and will get them in a few days. I assume they will be brand new tubes out of a monster box. I am now worried about all the warnings of fake coins even going unrecognized by the dealers.

Please put my mind at easy I am getting new product on my first purpurchase or tell me what signs to look for.

 

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Welcome to the forum. You'll be able to tell very shortly if they've been abused or beaten up. Just take your time and take a good look at them. They are tube silver, or have been stacked on top of each other in tubes, so they won't be perfect, but they shouldn't have gashes, big scratches or other signs of being handled. I'm glad you went with the company you did, they're good people and my experience is what you'll receive will be just fine.

 

Did you start this website and forum today? There is nothing there besides a phone number....come out with all the info or it looks like a scam or spamming

 

When it comes to ASEs..."uncirculated" is more a description of the finish than anything else. As you say..."people don't use ASE to buy a $1 coke at the gas station".

To step just a little beyond your question, the term "uncirculated", in general, has evolved over time. The term "Brilliant Uncirculated" used to mean that the coin appears the same "...as it did when it dropped from the die". Nowadays, folks throw around the term "BU" with no meaning at all. A toned coin is sometimes described as "BU". :rolling: It's become more a reference to "luster" than anything else. An Almost Uncirculated (AU) coin has (and should have) luster...that doesn't make it "BU"!

Once a coin drops from the die, it's bagged, rolled, or processed in other ways before reaching the collector. The coin hasn't circulated, but can develop some very unsightly marks. Once collectors get a hold of them, the coins can develop "album rub" or "roll rub" ...or other marks that can give the appearance of circulation even if it's only had one owner.

Some coins can have weak strikes...giving them the "appearance" of circulation when, in fact, they're BU! Walking Liberty halves are a good example of this. Bottom line...get to know the series you wish to collect before spending any serious money.






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The easiest way to describe Uncirculated would be not circulated to the public after being minted. The coin for example may have slight nicks or markings, (Bag Marks) from being put together once being done at the mint. There is a scale for this called the sheldon scale. 1-70, look it up and it will explain more. to be uncirculated the coin needs to be in the 60-70 range.

 

uncirculated means exactly what it sounds like. it has not been circulated.

 

If they're 2013 ASE, I would think they just pull tubes straight from a monster box. You can probably call their customer service to get clarification. I got my 2013 from Apmex and have no doubts they are the real thing.

As far as fake ASE, I did see one in a youtube clip. The ground where Lady Liberty walks should have some texture. The fake didn't (totally smooth) The sun rays should taper. The fake sun rays remained wide. I think difference in detail with the stars above Liberty's arm. The dimensions and/or weight may have been off spec. Of course, things may have changed since then.

You can get a 100 gram pocket digital scale and digital calipers pretty cheaply to measure and weigh your coins.
Also, if you have strong neodymium magnets, there's the magnet test. And, ASE ring test. ASE ring nicely!

There might also be local companies who will use say XRF technology to take a reading of the metal content of your coins. This would cost bucks to have done though and I think only works to certain thickness.

Personally, I think you'll be ok.

 

this is a must read http://www.amazon.com/Collectors-Survival-Manual-Seventh-Edition/dp/0375723390

 

Oh, you should be able to see the cartwheel effect on new ASE.